Spring motor



2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

B. P. MIDDLESTETTER Jan. 1 0, 1950 SPRING MOTOR Filed July l0, 1946 Jan. 1Q, 1950 B. P. MIDDLESTETTER SPRING MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July l0, 1946 m, wmb

INVENTOR.

f/ ""l BY Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING Moron Brewster P. Middlestetten-near Lewisburg, Ohio Application July 10, 1946, Serial No. 682,711

I 4 claims. (o1. 18s- 31) This invention relates to a spring motor and more particularly to a spring motor utilizing a plurality of springs so constructed and arranged that the energy from only one spring is spent at a time.

Spring motors have been proposed for various usages. When a plurality of springs are to be used, if all of the springs are released simultaneously, a tremendous amount of force will be exerted for a short period of time. This is followed by a lean period when practically all of the energy from all of the springs has been spent, at which time the total output from each of the springs is quite low.

An object of this invention is to provide a plurality of springs, so arranged that each spring vfunctions as a spring motor Working 'independently of the other springs during the time that its energy is spent. When practically all of the energy has been spent, a succeeding spring motor is released, so as to permit this spring motor to spend its energy prior to the release of another spring motor, et cetera.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spring retaining and releasing mechanism that is satisfactory in holding the springs of succeeding motors until released,'so as to permit the succeeding motor to be unwound to thereby supply its energy to the load.

Another object of this invention is to provide 'a spring motor mechanism wherein the load may be released so as to permit each one of the springs to rapidly release its energy in seriatim in readiness for the rewlnding of the succeeding motors simultaneously. Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts,Y the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a spring motor.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the spring motor shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the drive spring, brake and release mechanism.

Figure 8 is an'end'elevational Y view', as vievved fromthe right'of Figure 1.

, 2 Figure 9 is an end View, as seen from' the left of Figure 1.

The frame assembly for supporting the spring vmotors includes a plurality of discs I0, I2, I4

and I6, held in equal spaced relation by four bolts I8 passing through suitable apertures in the discs I0, I2, I4 and I6, which discs are spaced apart by tubular members 28 positioned between the discs and around the bolts I8. The discs I0, I2 and I4 are providedY with apertures for supporting the bearings 2 2, 24 'and 26. The bearing 22 has journalled therein a tubular shaft 38 provided with a threaded portionv 32 and a reduced threaded portion'34. The bearing 24 rhas journalled therein a tubular shaft 36 provided with a. threaded-end 38 ysupporting a friction disc 40 held in position by a suitable nut 42. This tubular shaft 36 is also provided with threads 44 and a threaded reduced end 45. The bearing 26 supports a tubular shaft 50 provided with a threaded end 52 supporting a friction disc 54 held in position by va suitable nut 5t. 'The opposite end of member 50 is provided with threads'58.' 'Y The tubular shafts 30, 36 and 50 each support .a pair of bearings and 62. These bearings support threaded shafts 64a, 64b and 64e, connectedr together by suitable coupling nuts 66. The disc I6 supports a bearing68 having journalled therein the stubshaft 'I8 having both ends threaded. The shaft 64a and the shaft 10, by being coupled together with a coupling nut 66, rotate in unison, so that for all practical purposes these shafts are the full equivalent of one continuous shaft, as far as rotation is concerned.

The shaft 18 is provided with a threaded end threadedly engaging a gear 88 used in delivering 'the power through a pinion 82 in any selected load. The pinion 8 2 mounted upon a stubshaft 84 is fxedly attached to a levery 86, which lever is pivoted at 88 in such "a manner that the pinion 82, cooperating with the gear 80, forms a clutch mechanism. By actuating the lever 86, itis possi; ble to disengage the clutch, thereby releasing the `load from thegear 80.

The shaft 1I),v driving vthe gear 80, is rotated from' one of a plurality Vof spring motors.. These spring motors are arranged in tandem, so that when the energy of onel spring motor is spent, the succeeding spring motor is utilized in driving the shaft until all of the spring motors have had ,their energy spent. The spring motors, the clutch for connecting the several spring motors and the control mechanism for the spring motors will now be described.

rone yend secured to one of the rods I8, asbest Each spring motor includesla spring IIN) having housing a pain of compression springs |54 and .156. As thecyl-i-ndrical-mlembers |:5I- advance to Vcansecl to engage the? enlarged ends off the-:latches Vshaft .3622 w-ill rotate; a :ratchet |0200., identical to vments |51Z positioned"v between the springs |54 seen in Figure 4, and the opposite end secured to the tubular shaft 30, or 36, or 50, as the case may be. The tubular shaft 30 has xedly attached thereto a ratchet gear member |02 held in position by a suitable nut |04. A cup-shaped 5 disc member |08 is secured to the shaft 64a through a nut member having a pair of tongues ||2 projecting through suitable apertures im member' E08.` The-*nut` member` |[0 threadedlyv engages the'threads on the end of the 10;' shift 64a. The disc member |08 supports paWl members H4, urged into engagement with the ratchet gear |02, so that the energy fromethew spring |00 is transmitted through the tubular shaft 30, which in turn rotates# thev ratchetlgeanf |02, driving the disc memberV lithrough. the. paWl member |4 to drive the shaft 64d and there'- by the shafts 64b. 64e and the shaft 10i' andi: thei gear 80. VThis will occur only when a pawl' |20 .integralA with thenstarti-ng lever |122 pivotally 20 mounted at |24 to the disc |26 nxecuyattached energy etfthespring. |00-,.fxed1y attached tothe 25 shatt: 38, is beingspent, Tthe tubular shafts 36 ,arid-w are.` heldstatienary byfa friction brake mechanism, which will new be: described.

In orderta hold the. succeeding springs, brake 1 shoes |32 formed enthe ends ofbell cranklevers 30 Alhare'pivetallymounted brackets |36 integralfW-ithl the disc-likesupports or frame mem'- bers.- i2 or I4, as-the ease maybe, xedly mounted uponthe beltsorrods t0... The cuter. endsof the bell; cranklevers |-34are heldin. position by` latches 35 ,Miifpivotedat |42. andluddv in latching engage:- ,ment byfsprings Mil-.

Thefvbrake shoe |32 is released. by a release mechanism which:Y includes abuttery-like disc 4o larl shaitrotates; member |50 is: actuated toward-sthe righ-t;thereby Yactuating the cylin- .dr-icalmem-bersl-E'six fixedly attached thereto and the right, asviewedfinflli'gurefZ, the cylindrical vrmembers [5i function-aswl'atch-liiting.or latchreleasingmembers, in-that members |-5-I are |40;l Asthelatch is. lifted, aspringilsnaps the lrrake shoe. i32- outroi; engagement Withthedisc 40, thereby releasing the'succeeding spring.

As seen as thebrakefisI-released, thevv tubular L02., driving like parts. trs-'continue the rotation of 'whe 'dri-vesh'aft. When the second spring begins so rotate the shaft 36,'the disc member' |50,

rand and. `passing Vthrough suitable apertures AinlineV beil crank' levers |31, engage vthe 75 vthe objects setiortlzt;lv asdiscl bell crank levers |34 so as to actuate these bell crank levers against the tension springs |58, to apply the brake shoes |32 and permit the latches |40 to engage the ends of the bell crank levers |36 to lock all but the rst spring motor.

This arrangement of a spring motor may be used in actuating a generator for a ashlight, a lamp or it may be used in driving any other suitable load...A for examfpietit is used. in energizing a ashlight, it isfmerelylnecessary'to release the pawl from the ratchet |26 by actuating the 'lever |22 against the force of a spring |23 to start motor. If, for example, some of the energy has been spent from the first spring, or for that springm'otersta become unwound. lThis. may be accomplished by releasing the pinion 82 fron-ii the igear &0,. so astopermitthegean 80 tov-spin While .thespfringf motors are beingunwound. Upon all of. the spring-- motors.being,` unwoundf, these Vmay be wound. by the Windingkey @0f-that, is .normally exposed..x The. several-sparingmetersare Wound in unisomse that all of the spring.. motors will be equally Womad. Y

Afsuitable shell erV housing, not shown.` may be used for enclosing the motor assembly. y

` Although. the preferredernbodiment of thefde- -v-icehas-been described-, it willbe. 'understood that within: thev pmzvievn4 o this' invention, various changes may be madeimthefferm, details, `proportion and arrangement oi parts; the combination thereoi and mode. of.. operaticirnY which.. generally stated-consista af-devicefcapable of carryingV out osed and defined in the appended claims. f, Y v v Havingetkrus, described; my invention, I claim: lf. Aspiring motor assembiyV incl-udingialplii- ,rality of spring. meters arranged in tandem, a

mechanisms for connectingfthevspring motors -to the drive shaft, there being one clutch mechanism foreachspr-ingmotor.;brakemeans for holding each,l succeeding..meter,l and'means.- for releasing the brake meansde: onemotorat. aA time,.saidrer leasing means includingrathreaded member. actuated axiallyVv by. the.tubularmember ef the motor driving the shaft, said'r threaded member releasing the brake means otthe. next succeeding motor whenever the threadedrmember actnated into a predetermined position. f

2'. A spring motor asselnblyfincludingr a.- plurality o spring meters.. arranged in tandem, a common drive, shaft.r passingthrongh. the. spring rnotors,..cachet the springgmotorsi including a tubular memberretatably mannted on Y thea drive shaft afspringv havingonefend xedlfy mounted and the opposite end Va,tta -:hef;l..y tothe tubular member, saidtubmar Vmember vbei-ng provided with .threadsprojecting beyond the spring;:clntch 'mechanisms for connecting the springmetors to :the drive shaithere heine-one clutch-..mecha nism for each spring nmtonbsakemeans-including a friction disc xedly attached to the tubular member of the succeeding motor, movable brake shoes, releasable means for holding the brake shoes in contact with the friction disc, and means including a threaded member threadedly engaging a tubular member of a preceding motor, so that as said tubular member rotates it actuates the threaded members axially to cause said means to actuate the releasable means to thereby release the brake shoes so as to cause the next succeeding motor to rotate the drive shaft.

3. A spring motor assembly including a plurality of spring motors arranged in tandem, a common drive shaft passing through the spring motors, each of the spring motors including a tubular member rotatably mounted on the drive shaft, a spring having one end xedly mounted and theV opposite end attached to the tubular membesaid tubular member being provided with threads projecting beyond the spring, clutch mechanisms for connecting the spring motors to the drive shaft, there being one clutch mechanism for each spring motor, brake means for holding each succeeding motor, said brake means including a friction disc member attached to the tubular member of the succeeding motor, pivotally mounted brake shoe members mounted for oscillatory movement, yieldable means urging the brake shoe members out of engagement with the friction disc member, latch members for holding the brake shoe members in contact with the friction disc member in engagement with each other to prevent rotation of the succeeding motor, releasing means for releasing the latch members, said releasing means including a butterfly-like disc member threadedly engaging the tubular member of the preceding motor, and cylindrical members fixedly attached to the butterfly-like disc member, said cylindrical members advancing towards the latch members to release said latch members when the cylindrical members are actuated into a predetermined position to thereby permit the springs to snap the brake members out of engagement with the friction disc member to thereby release the succeeding motor.

4, A spring motor assembly including a plurality of spring motors arranged in tandem, a common drive shaft passing through the spring motors, each of the spring motors including a tubular member rotatably mounted on the drive shaft, a spring having one end xedly mounted and the opposite end attached to the tubular member, said tubular member being provided with threads projecting beyond the spring, clutch mechanisms for connecting the spring motors to the drive shaft, there being one clutch mechanism for each spring motor, brake means for holding each succeeding motor, said brake means including a friction disc member attached to the tubular member of the succeeding motor, pivotally mounted brake shoe members mounted for oscillatory movement, yieldable means urging the brake shoe members out of engagement with the friction disc member, latch members for holding the brake shoe members in contact with the friction disc member in engagement with each other to prevent rotation of the succeeding motor, releasing means for releasing the latch members, said releasing means including a butterfly-like disc member threadedly engaging the tubular member of the preceding motor, cylindrical members fixedly attached to the butterfly-like disc member, said cylindrical members advancing towards the latch members to release said latch members when the cylindrical members are actuated into a predetermined position to thereby permit the springs to snap the brake members out of engagement with the friction disc member to thereby release the succeeding motor, and means for automatically resetting all of the brake shoe members upon the spring motors being rewound.

BREWSTER P. MIDDLESTETTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 229,887 Horton July 13, 1880 300,753 Austin June 24, 1884 643,078 Anderson y- P Feb- 6. 1900 

